Apparatus for the manufacture of hollow cast articles



H. MARTIN ET AL Feb. 24, 1953 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l NNN R nww l X fin wmw w w mkw 0 mm mv M N NR 'INVENI'ORS HEMQY MARTIN 8 PAUL REKETTYE ATTORNEYS Feb, 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENRY MART/IV 8 PAUL RE/(ETTYE ATTOR NE Y5 b 4, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FoR T HE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

INVENTORS HENRY MART/N 8 PAUL REKETTYE I ATTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1953 R- 1 E AL 2,629,131

ST ARTICLES APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAA Fild Aug. 16 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HENRY MART/N 8 PAUL RE/(ETTYE ATTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL API ARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HENRY MART/IV a PAUL RE/(ETTYE Filed Aug. 16, 1950 8% 1 A r TOR/VEYS Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 2/ 2/ 94 I I) lg, 8/ I40 I38 20 20 lro III A A TTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1953 MARTlN E 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR' THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 a F l6. /5

IN VENTORS HENRY MART/N a By PAUL REKETTYE Yj avk ATTORNEYS 1.3 Sheets-Sheet 8 H. MARTIN ETAL APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES ATTOR/VE r f Feb. 24, 1953 Filed Aug. 16, 1950 8 R m? E N "R M Mm MN v. Q

. Q m9 Q9 2 v an Ea m2 2 m5 8 9w Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,529,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES INVENTORj HENRY MART/N a By PAUL REKETTYE Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTORS HENRY MART/N 8 24 y PAUL RE/(ETTYE ATTO NEYS Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 l3 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTORS HENRY MART/N 8 BY PAUL REKETTYE' A TTORNE )19 2,629,131 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed 'Itug. 16, 1950 INVEN TORS HEN/P) MAR TIN 6 PAUL RE/(ETTYE ATTOR s Feb. 24, 1953 H. MARTIN ET AL 2,629,131

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Filed Aug. 16, 1950 Sheets-Sheet l3 /a4 238 l/ [A INVENTORS HENRY MART/N 6 PAUL RE/(ETTYE ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24, 1953 APP R T F R T ANUFACTUR 01 HOLLOW CAST ARTICLES Henry Martin, Wadsworth, and: Paul Rekettye, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The Sun Rubber Company, Barberton, Ohio, a corporation of;

Ohio.

Application August 16, 1950, SerialNo. 179,726

The present invention relates to apparatus for the. manufacture primarily of hollow, flexible articles, from plastic materials, by what may be convenientlytermed as an interna1 casting process. In the practice of this method generally, a'hollow mold is loaded with a charge of a liquid plastic material and the mold is rotated upon itself in a plurality of planes so that the material covers the interior of the mold or matrix to a uniform ex. tent. The liquid plastic will gel on the interior of the matrix during the distributing operation, so that a shell of uniform thickness is deposited on the interior of the mold. The gelled skin or shell is then brought to the fusing temperature Of the plastic which finally forms the molded article. Various types of plastic materials or resins may be employed, but it is preferred in the operation of the machine shown and described herein to employ one of the numerous resins adapted for the purpose and to apply heat to the molds during their rotation, which will cause the liquid material to set as a skin or shell, the thicknes of which depends upon the amount of the original charge placed in the mold, all of the charge of the material being used to make the shell. Vinyl resins which are polymers of vinyl chloride com bined with suitable plasticizers are adaptable for the purpose and are readily available upon the. market. Other materials suitable for the purpose may be used. It i possible also to utilize liquid materials which do not require the application of heat to set u and, with such materials, the heating and cooling of the molds maybe omitted.

The apparatus is shown in its best known and preferred form, which is that which has been developed for the use of materials. However, changes and modifications may be made therein if necessary to adapt the principles of the invention to other materials.

The purpose of the invention is to devise a machine which, except for the removal of the finished product, is entirely automatic. All that is required is that. the operator remove the hollow articles from the molds, which then travel to a point where a measured charge of the liquid material is deposited in one part of each mold as it passes the loading station. The mold are then closed tightly so that none of the liquid material will escape. After the molds are closed, they are started in rotation simultaneously on two axes, which distributes the charges over the inner surface of each mold and the molds then progress while in rotation through a heated oven, where they are subjected to sufiicient heat to gel, and

33 Claims.

then to fuse the plastic material. Thence the molds pass through a cooling chamber. After leaving the cooling chamber, the molds aresuccessively righted and are then acted upon by a device which first unlocks the molds and then opens them and they return to the startingv point.

Machines of the general nature set forth above have been suggested in the priorart but none, of them has proven satisfactory for rapid and efficient. operation. The. machine shown and described herein is automatic in its operation, and requires a minimum of servicing and attention. It enables the rapid and extremely economical production of a large. number of articles. It replaces, old molding processes which are expensive and unsatisfactory in, operation. The product is uniformly constant and few seconds or rejects are produced.

The preferred embodiment of the machine disclosed herein is intended for the manufacture of small hollow. toys or dolls, the cheap and rapid production of which is one of the purposes of the invention. It may, however, be employed for the manufacture of all types; of hollow articles which may be produced by the internal casting method as adapted to resinous and similar plastic matea rials.

While the machine is shown in great detail in orderthat the invention may be thoroughly understood, many details are not essential and changes, modifications, and improvements may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

The methodof preparing the vinyl chloride polymer and plasticizers, or other casting material,such as. adapted for internal casting on this machine, and the process carried on, are the sub? ject of a copending application of Robert P. Molitor, Serial No. 170,515, filed June 27, 1950.

In the. drawings, in which the presently perfected best, known, form of machine embodying the invention is shown:

Fig.1 i5. aside elevation of a complete installation, the opera-tor being stationed at the right hand end of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the driving mechanism which propels the conveyer, this view being on the ine o i Fig. 3 is a cross section through the heating and fusing or setting oven taken on the. line 3, ,3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one side of the conveyor taken on the broken section line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line55 of Fig. '3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts of the device shown in Fig. 4, this view being taken on the line 6& of Fig. 4.

Figs. 7 and 8 are details on the lines 1-? and B-8, respectively, of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the matrix carrier on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section taken at the cooling chamber on the line I l-i I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a side view on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail showing the operation of the device for insuring that the mold carriers are in correct position as they approach the mold opening device.

Fig. 14 is a side view of that portion of the apparatus Where the molds are opened for the removal of the finished product, this being the portion of the apparatus shown in the lower right hand corner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a detail on the line l5i5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a detail of the mold opening cam on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 14, and Fig. 17 is a section on the line ll-i l of Fig. 16.

Figs. 18 and 19 are detailed sections on the lines l8-l8 and l9l9, respectively, of Fig. 14.

Fig. 20 is in effect a continuation of Fig. 14 and shows the progression of the open molds to the charging and loading station and the closing of the molds.

Fig. 20a is a section on the line 2fla2oa of Fig. 20.

\ Figs. 21 and 22 are sections on the lines 2 l2l and 2222 of Fig. 20, respectively, showing details of the device for holding what now becomes the upper half of the mold raised above the lower or stationary half until the charge is injected into the lower half of the mold.

Fig. 23 is a vertical section taken just ahead of the charging mechanism, the location of the view being shown by the section line 23-23 on Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 is a detail of the control switch that actuates the charging device, being taken on the line 24-44 of Fig. 20, and Fig. 25 is a section thereof on the line 25-45 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged View of the measuring pump which delivers the accurately measured charge of the casting to each mold as it passes the charging point. i

Fig. 27 is a view showing the movement of the charging device, the location of this view being indicated by the line 21-21 on Fig. 28.

Fig. 27a is a section on the line 27a21a of Fig. 28.

Fig. 28 is a horizontal section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 20 looking down on that portion of the apparatus where the charge is delivered, and the mold closed and locked.

'Fig. 28a is a fragmentary view showing the position of a matrix carrier just before it reaches the point where it starts in rotation. 1 t

Fig. 29 is a detail of the mold lockingdevice, and Fig. 30 is a somewhat enlarged view thereof in another position. 1

Fig. 31 is a detail of the control for the charging and mold locking devices.

Fig. 32 is a view showing an example of a hollow article which may be cast by the use of the apparatus.

The machine shown and described herein i a duplex machine in which two series of molds or matrices are carried on either side of an endless conveyer chain or belt, thus providing a unit a l Q large id eeen a nrodu t n-.qf

4 dual operation is not essential to the invention as a single set of matrices may be used. The dimensions of the fusing oven and the speed of the conveyer may be varied, depending upon the period required for gelling and fusing the articles within the molds.

General description The various operating elements are carried upon a pair of vertical uprights l and 2, upper cross beams 3, and lower cross beams 9, located to the right of the machine Where the molds are opened, the finished articles removed, and the molds reloaded, and upon a pair of intermediate, shorter uprights t and uprights 5 at the left hand end of the machine where the drive mechanism is located. Welded to the uprights are upper and lower channels 6 and l, which may be suitably braced as shown at 8.

Near the upper part of the machine, at either end thereof, are vertical plates IE] to which are welded the two side plates I l, which extend along the entire machine and to which are bolted the two oppositely positioned angular platforms IS, on which are mounted the rails H5 that support and guide the conveyer chains during the loading of the molds and during their travel through the oven.

In the lower part of the frame and supported upon uprights such as shown at l9 in Fig. 11 are two parallel downwardly inclined angle iron beams 20, to the upper side of which are attached rails 2| which support the conveyer after it makes its return bend and while it passes through the cooling chamber. The inclination of the conveyer during its return movement provides a vertical run of the conveyer during which the finished articles are removed from the matrices.

The conveyer is given the general reference numeral. 24. In the particular embodiment shown herein, the conveyer consists of a dual chain, each chain being made up of two sets of pivoted links 25 connected by transverse pins 23. On each pin 26 is a flanged wheel 28 which moves over the rails i8 and 2!. The two chains are trained over large sprocket wheels, those at the right hand end of the machine being upper and lower idler sprockets. 29 and 30, respectively, which are vertically spaced to afford a substantialvertical flight at the right hand end of the machine so that the articles may be removed, the interior of the molds inspected, and any residue removed therefrom before the molds pass to the loading station. The sprockets 29 are keyed to a transverse shaft 3! and the sprockets 30 to the shaft 32. The shaft 3! is mounted in bearings 34, attached to the uprights l and 2, and also in a central bearing 35 secured to the right hand plate K! (Fig. 23). The lower shaft 32 is supported in end bearings 35, vertically adjustable on the lower part of the uprights l and 2, as indicated by the dotted'lines in Fig. 20. The vertical adjustment permits any slack in the chain to be taken up.

The conveyer 24 is driven by a pair of sprockets 39 which are keyed to a shalt 58 mounted in the left hand uprights 5 and in a bearing carried by the left hand plate id in the same manner as the shaft 3|. The shaft 46 is extended to one side of the machine where it is keyed to a sprocket 4| over which is passed the chain 82, which also engages a sprocket 43 mounted on the transverse drive shaft 4-5. Shaft 45 is driven through a gear reduction unit 25 and a variable speed drive mechanism 4'! of any preferred type which are mounted on a platform 54 at the base of the 5 uprights 5. A motor 48, mounted on an extension %9 from the platform M, drives the power transmission assembly through the belt 50.

The speed at which the conveyer is propelled through the machine will depend upon a number of factors, among which are the size of the matrix cavity, the character and properties of the casting material which is being used, some of such materials setting up and fusing at shorter intervals than others. The temperature of the fusing oven and the heat conductivity of the matrices will also affect the time interval. All of these factors are determined and the speed of the conveyer adjusted thereto so that the casting material will be properly fused by the time the matrices pass out of the fusing oven.

The fusing oven is a long tunnel or chamber 55 which encloses the upper horizontal run of the conveyer t l. It extends from a point spaced sufficiently from the right hand uprights I and 2, to allow the matrices to be charged and then closed and locked, to a point near the left hand uprights 5. It may be provided with a hooded extension 5%; which surrounds the sprockets 3i and prevents undue heat loss. The walls of the oven are thoroughly insulated, as shown in 3, and the oven is supported on the longitudinal rails E5. Interiorly of the tunnel are located the curved vertical walls 58 which partially surround the matrices as they are carried through the tunnel. These walls are highly polished so that they will reflect heat rays which are generated by electrical heating units 5G mounted on the walls 58. To prevent heat loss, the heating chamber is divided by the two angular partitions til, the inner surfaces of which are reflecting so as to radiate heat. The walls 58 and Gil completely surround the matrices as they pass through the tunnel, the partitions being provided with horizontal slots 5i through which the matrix carriers may pass. The partitions and the walls 58 are supported on transverse rails 52 at the base of the oven and by hangers 53 from the ceiling. The temperature within the fusing oven is set to the requirement of the articles being molded and may vary between 300 and 650 F. To control the heat, a heat-sensitive bulb 69 is located in a recess ill in the wall (ill of each chamber. This bulb is exposed to the radiant heat in the oven and is connected to a control mechanism for the heater located in a box if at each side of the oven.

It is necessary to cool the matrices down to a temperature well below the fusing point of the casting material before the matrices are opened. This again depends upon the character of the casting material, but the cooled temperature is usually between 180 and 200 F. For this purpose there is provided a cooling chamber or tunnel which surrounds the c-onveyer during its return run, while it is supported on the inclined rails 2E. The cooling tunnel is indicated as a whole by the numeral B l. In the form shown, an individual tunnel is provided for each side of the conveyer and each is carried by the braces 8, the rails 29, and hangers 55 from the underside of the heating oven 55. Located in the ceiling of the tunnel E i are a plurality of cooling water sprays 66, which discharge over the matrices, the water flowing out of the cooling tunnel and being collected in a trough 8B.

The matrices and carriers Between every other pair of supporting wheels 28 on each side of the conveyer and welded to the opposite links in a chain is a bearing sleeve 12, and in each pair of sleeves on the opposed chains is rotatably mounted a shaft 35. Keyed tothe center of each shaft 15 is a pinion i6. During the travel of the chain, from the time the matrices are closed and locked until the conveyer passes out of the fusing oven, the shaft E5 is rotated by the engagement of the pinion '56 with a long, stationary rack '18 mounted at the center line'of the platforms it. This arrangement serves to impart a. compound rotation to the matrices in the manner to be described, so that the charge of casting material is thoroughly and equally distribu ed over the inner surfaces of each matrix.

Where each shaft 75 projects beyond the chain 25 is located a. bushing '19 on which is rotatably mounted the hub on a sprocket 89. On the extreme end of each shaft is fixed a crank arm 82, the outer end of which is formed with a side arm or crank 8 On the outer end of the crank arm are provided the two extended aligned bearings and 85, in which is mounted the shaft 88. The inner end of the shaft 33, or that end adjacent the conveyer chain is fastened to a sprocket S9, and a sprocket chain fit connects the two sprockets 89 and 39. On the extreme inner end of the shaft and held in place by a disc 93 (Fig. 7) is journaled a roller 92, which, at certain times during the travel of the conveyer, serves to hold the crank arm 82 from rotating about the axis provided by the shaft 75. Projecting inwardly from each sprocket 3t is a angular pin 53 1, the outer end of which is the plane of the conveyor chain and will strike the chain as the sprocket tends to rotate with the shaft E5. One of the functions of this pin is to hold the sprocket 83 stationary so that as the arm 82 moves about the axis 15, the chain at will drive the shaft 83. In this manner, rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 88 while the arms 82 rotate in a vertical plane as they are driven by the pinion l6 and rack F8. The pin 9% also functions at times to bring the matrix carriers to a definite angular relation with respect to the plane of the conveyer. Near the bend in the crank arm is fixed a cam shoe 96, which at times in the operation of the conveyer rides along certain guiding surfaces, to be described, to hold the crank arm in its required position.

In the extreme outer end of the crank 36 is a bearing 58 which is radial to the shaft 15, and in this hearing is received a short shaft 99, the inner end of which carries the yoke [Ml which is the immediate matrix carrier. On the outer end of shaft 89 is a bevel pinion I92 which meshes with a bevel pinion M3 on the outer end of shaft 88. It has been found that by making the sprockets which drive the matrices of sizes so that the number of teeth on one sprocket is not the same or an equal division of the number of teeth on the other sprocket, the casting material within the matrix is evenly distributed over the inner surface. Were the number of teeth on the two sprockets 86 and 89 the same or equal multiples of the number of teeth on the other, the casting material would tend to flow in regular zones or paths over the interior of the matrix, rather than to distribute evenly over the entire surface thereof. In actual practice, the sprocket 89 has been provided with It teeth and the sprocket 8G with 42 teeth, but this ratio is not important as many unequal ratios will be found to accomplish the purpose.

Midway between the parallel arms of the yoke H39 is located the matrix which is given the general reference numeral m5. Many different forms of matrices may be installed in the machine, it being desirable, however, that any series of matrices on one side of the conveyor shall require equal amounts of the casting material because the matrices are automatically charged with measured amounts of the material to form the shell on the interior of the matrix. The machine is peculiarly adapted to form articles of all sorts of irregular contours with even wall thickness throughout. In the particular form shown here, the matrix is cut to form the toy doll indicated at I 96 in Fig. 32. Even more complicated designs are correctly followed in the operation of the machine. It is also desirable to have the matrices interchangeable so that all sorts of articles may be produced in the machine simply by changing the matrices. The matrices are usually made of metal to provide for heat transfer to and from the interior of the matrix, being preferably made of copper or steel, copper or bronze plated on its inner surfaces and exteriorly coated with a dark, heat-absorbing coating.

Each matrix, of whatever form employed, is made in two sections, divided along a line which will preferably follow the contour of the article at its widest parts. For example, on the toy selected for illustration, the dividing line between the two matrix sections is indicated by the line I81 in Fig. 32. This will make a fairly equal division between the areas in each matrix and will give a generally cup-shaped or concave contour to each matrix half.

In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, the matrix is divided into the two sections Hi8 and I69, the former being designated as the lower section because it is the one which receives the charge of casting material. The section I08 is stationary on the yoke H23. The upper and movable mold section we is the one which is shifted to open the matrix at the end of the operation and remains in raised position until after the charge is received in the lower section, whereupon it is closed and locked before the matrix supporting unit starts to revolve.

In order to provide for interchangeability of matrices, the lower or stationary matrix section I38 is provided at its center with a threaded socket III, in which is received the threaded stud I I2, which is in turn threaded into a post or spindle H4, the lower end of which is seated in one of the arms of the yoke (see Fig. 8). A set screw H is threaded through the yoke arm and holds the post in position. By providing a removable post such as ii l between the lower matrix section and the arm, deeper or shallower matrix sections may be employed, the overall depth of the complete matrix being compensated for by changing the posts Ht to suit. This will also bring the lower matrix sections to the correct level to receive the charge of casting material. The set screw I I5 also permits the lower matrix section to be twisted upon the central axis to insure accurate registry of the lower matrix section with the upper matrix section.

The upper or movable matrix section IE9 is mounted on the lower end of a sliding bar I I3 in a somewhat different fashion. In this case a stud H9 is threaded into the top of the section I I39 and in the lower end of the bar IE8, and an adjusting nut I20 is interposed between the matrix section and the bar. This enables the operator who is setting th matrices in the yokes I06 to make a final adjustment to insure that the two matrix sections come into tight sealing relation when the bar is brought down to close the matrix and is locked in place, as will be described. This adjustment is done by threading the stud IIS into either the section I09 or the bar I I8 to the required distance and then turning the nut I to lock the stud in its adjusted position.

The slide bar I I8 is rectangular in cross section and at its outer end is slidably mounted in a guideway I22 formed in an enlargement in the arm of the yoke opposite the point of attachment of the lower matrix section. On the outer end of bar H8 is a bearing pin I24 on the ends of which are mounted the rollers I25 by which the bar is shifted to open the matrix and by which the movable matrix section is held in raised position at the time the charge is introduced into th lower matrix section. In the lowered or innermost position, the rollers I25 seat in recesses I26 found in the yoke I60. The rollers I25 also receive the blow of a hammer, which brings the two matrix sections into tight fitting relation before the matrix passes to the point where it is set in rotation by the gear "It and rack I8.

It is essential to provide means for locking the two matrix sections in closed position. For this purpose, the edge of the bar II 8 adjacent the yoke I09 is provided with a notch I30 and on the inside of the arm of the yoke is threaded a pivot pin ISI around the outer end of which is located a bearing collar I32. On the collar and held by the bolt is a rocking, locking lever I34.

One side of the lever IE4 is formed with a cammed locking surface I35, which enters the notch I30 and securely locks the two matrix sections together. From the other side of the lever I34 extend the two diverging arms I37 and I 33 which pass to opposite sides of the yoke I60, as seen in Fig. 10.

After the movable matrix section is brought down by the hammer referred to, appropriate mechanism strikes the arm I38 and moves the cammed surface I35 into the notch. The lever I34 remains in this position until the matrix passes out of the cooling tunnel 64 and is ready to be opened, whereupon mechanism to be described strikes the arm I37 which frees the lock so that when the matrix reaches the opening point in the travel of the conveyer the bar H8 is shifted outwardly to open the matrix. This is the operation which is shown in Figs. 14, 16 and other views, at which time it will be noted that the yoke I60 is so positioned that the matrix section 5% is then beneath the section I08. It will also be noted that the position of the arms I31 and I38 is reversed from the position shown in Fig. 10 because the yoke Iflfi is reversed in those figures.

On the yoke Iilfi is located a pin I40 which operates the switches that in turn actuate the mechanism for delivering the charge of casting material to the stationary matrix section.

Matrix opening and closing Starting at the point in the continuous cycle of the conveyer when the matrix is open and the operator removes the finished article, the various mechanisms which open and close the mold at the proper time in the cycle Will now be described. For this purpose the description will start with the condition of a matrix and the position of the yoke It!) at the lower right hand corner of the machine as viewed in Fig. l and as shown in greater detail in Fig. 14.

At the point selected, the matrix section I09 has been removed from the stationary matrix I88 so that the bar H8 is at its outer position.

The yoke Hill is hanging by gravity in about the position shown at A in Fig. 14. The pinion "I6 is idle so that the whole yoke assembly is free to turn about the shaft 15. The finished article usually lies in the section I09 ready to be removed by the operator and the matrix is about to start on its upward travel toward the loading point.

In order to hold the yoke in a fixed position during its upward travel, so the operator may remove the article and inspect the mold, and clean it, if necessary, a cam track is arranged at the right hand side of the machine, into which the roller 92 enters and by which the yoke is held in the position shown to the right of Fig. 14. The cam track, which is duplicated on both sides of the machine, is composed of a long plate I45 to which is welded a rail I56, the plate and the rail being turned at the lower end toward the oncoming matrices, so that the rollers 92 will suecessively enter the cam track and be guided thereby in their upward travel. The plate I 45 is welded at its upper end to a semi-circular plate I48, which is bolted to a sleeve I49 loosely surrounding the shaft 3| and held in position by a collar I-tl. The lower end of plate I45 is welded to a plate I56 mounted in the same manner on the shaft 32. A supplemental back rail I52 is welded to the plate I45 between the plates M8 and I58 to complete the cam track. Near the upper end of plate I45 the rail It flares outwardly, as shown at I54 in Fig. 20, spaced from and paralleling the arc of the plate I43. As the matrix carriers approach the top of the vertical run of the conveyer, the roller 92 strikes the edge of the plate I 33 which now becomes the guiding cam. This serves to turn the yokes as shown in Fig. 20 so that they assume the upright position as they pass into the upper horizontal flight of the conveyer with the stationary matrix sections I98 beneath and the movable matrix sections Its above. The yokes are also positioned so that the crank arms extend to the rear with the rollers 92 trailing. As the rollers 92 reach the top of the plate I 48, they pass on to a supplemental horizontal track section I55, which is welded to a tangent extension I5? of the plate I46. The track section I56 holds the yokes in their upright positions during the loading and matrix closing operations. After these operations are completed, the rollers 52 pass oil the rail I56 and the matrix holders are ready to start revolving, which takes place when the pinions I6 engage the rack '55. As explained above, the yokes I65 do not start their independent revolutions until the pin It is brought into contact with the adjacent link of the chain. lhe right hand end of the rack I8 is spaced from the terminus of the rail I56 8. sufficient distance to permit the roller 92 to pass off the end of the rail as shown in Fig. 28.

As the yokes turn from what may be termed the inverted position in which they are during the opening of the matrices to what may be termed their upright position during the loading operations, means are provided to hold the movable matrix sections its in raised position above the stationary matrix sections I68. This is done by engaging and holding the rollers I25 at the top of the bars HS in their outward position during this period of the conveyer travel.

As the rollers d2 pass onto the surface of the plate M8, the extended bars IIB pass between two flaring fingers the which are extensions of long rails ISI which parallel but are spaced outwardly from the guiding surface formed by the edge of the plate hit and the tangential rail exl tension I55. As the fingers I60 converge, the bars H3 are centered and held by the rails IBI while the rollers I25 ride on the top of the rails and thus the matrix sections I69 are maintained in raised position until after the charging operation, whereupon the rollers I25 leave the ends of the rails I6I shown in dotted lines in Fig, 20 and the upper matrix sections drop onto the lower matrix sections.

The rails I6I on each side of the conveyer are secured by bolts I62 to the opposing faces of two parallel vertical supporting plates I64, the shape of which is shown in Fig. 20, it being sufficient to say that the plates I64 are provided with long are shaped portions which are concentric with the surface of the plate I48 and with a tangent extension which parallels the rail I56. The plates are held in spaced relation to one another by spacer blocks I66 and transverse bolts I6! located at sufficient intervals to form a rigid structure. Each plate I66 has a vertical extension which is riveted to an angle iron I69, the irons I69 being welded to the underside of the cross beams 3.

As the matrix carriers pass out of the oven and around the sprockets 33 they are free of any guiding or turning devices and hang by gravity, due to the weight of the crank arm and the elements carried thereby in the position shown at the left in Fig. 12. The yokes, however, may be in non-uniform, angular relation with respect to the plane of the conveyer. In order to straighten up the matrix carriers so that all of the yokes I will stand outwardly at right angles to the vertical plane of the conveyer, in position for the succeeding operations, a pin III! is located on a beam 25 in position so that it will be struck by the crank arm 82 as it reaches the pin. (See Figs. 12 and 13). The forward movement of the conveyer wil1 rock the matrix carrier as shown in Fig. 13 and, at the point where the sprocket S6 is arrested in its rotation by the contact of the pin El i, which is now beneath the chain, with the underside of the chain, thiswill serve to rotate the shaft 88 to the correct amount to turn is so located that when the matrix carrier is in the angular position forced upon it by the pin Ill), the yoke is parallel to the crank portion 84 of the crank arm.

It is also desirable to have the yokes I66 at the same angular relation with respect to the conveyor at the time that the pinions l6 engage the rack 78 and, for this purpose, the pin 94 is employed, reference being made to Figs. 20, 23, 28 and 28a. On each side of the conveyer, there is secured to the underside of the cross beams 3 pairs of angular brackets I'I l in which is secured an arm I15 which extends forwardly toward the oven 55, then downwardly to a point near the conveyer, where it terminates in a cam surface I '16. This cam surface is located so that it will be struck by the pin 9t just before the roller 92 reaches the end of the track I56. As the matrix carrier is held at this time against rotation about the axis I5 by the contact of the roller 52 with track I56, the movement of the 11 sprocket 80 caused by contact of pin 94 with the cam surface I'IG will cause the shaft 28 to rotate to the required degree to correct any misalignment of the yokes I99.

Rotation of the matrices at this point also causes a preliminary distribution of the casting material over the interior of each matrix before the commencement of rotation by the rack I8. It sometimes happens that the casting material will start to set immediately after it is introduced into a matrix and this preliminary rotation will prevent the formation of a heavy area in the article due to premature setting.

It is desirable to cool the molds only to a point below the fusing point of the casting material which conserves heat units in the gelling and fusing periods, and thus speeds up production. As noted above, molds are not brought back to room temperature before they are opened, and the fact that the matrices are still at an elevated temperature when they reach the point where the charge of casting material is introduced therein might cause a premature localized gelling of the material if the matrices remained stationary for any appreciable time. The machine prevents this occurrence because the rotation of the matrices is initiated immediately after the matrices are closed, and hence no thick spots will occur such as might be generated by permitting the casting material to remain too long in contact with any one spot of a hot matrix.

Returning now to the mechanism for opening the matrices, reference is made to Fig. 14 and the associated detailed views. As the matrices leave the cooling chamber and approach the opening point, they are hanging from theconveyor chain with the yokes I80 at right angles to the plane of the conveyor and, at this time, the matrix locking lever I34 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10, with the cam surface I35 in the notch I30 and the arm I31 projecting outwardly as shown at the left in Fig. 16.

As the matrices approach the lower right hand corner of the machine, the supporting wheels 28 leave the rail 2! and pass on to the upper edge of a horizontal guide track I30 welded to the top of the rail 2!. This track I80 supports the chain so that the matrices pass above the matrix opening devices.

It will be noted that as the conveyor chain approaches the matrix opening mechanism, the yokes I96 are standing outwardly at right angles to the plane of the conveyer. For the opening operation the yokes are turned so that they are parallel. to the plane of the chain. The first op eration is to turn the yokes to the position stated and, for this purpose, there is attached to the beam 29 a triangular plate I82 (Figs. 14 and 15) which is in the path of the roller 92. As the roller on. each matrix carrier strikes the rear, upwardly inclined edge of the plate I82, the forward. movement of the conveyor causes the entire matrix carrier to swing backwardly or in the clockwise direction as shown to the left in Fig. 14, in. much the same manner that the carrier is rocked by the I19. In the same manner, the contact of the pin 94 with the underside of the conveyer chain. causes the yoke turning mechanism to function and turn the yckes I69 to tl e position shown in the remainderof Fig. 14, with the yokes presented edgewise to the opening mechanism and with the side of the yokes having the bars H8 at the lower side of the yokes.

When the yokes have been turned in the manner described they pass off the plate I82 and onto a long cam track I85, the upper edge of which is located in the path of the cam shoes 93. This cam track extends from the plate I32 to a point beneath the sprocket 30. It is secured to the floor by bolts I84 and, at its outer end, extends over the top of the cross beam 9. The contour of the cam track is shown in Fig. 14. It starts with an upwardly inclined surface I86 and then passes into a long concave surface I87. As the cam shoe 96 rides over these surfaces, the matrix carrier is rocked about the axis I5 in the various positions shown, which are best adapted for the operations to be performed at this point. The cam track also holds the matrix carrier against movement while the opening operations are being performed and, at its extreme outer end, it serves to support the chain after it leaves the track I83 and starts the chain in engagement with the sprocket 3E3.

Secured to the cross beam 9 by angle irons R39 are two parallel upstanding plates I99 and I9I. These two plates I99 and IEli extend rearwardly to points beyond the lowermost point in the arc IB'I. At their rear ends they are provided with flared extensions E93 and I95, respectively, which serve to receive and guide the yokes into the narrow channel I92 provided by the main bodies of the plates. It will be noted that the rear end or flared portion of the plate I90 is raised as shown in Fig. 14 and is then cut down 'to the height of the main body of the plate as shown at I95, this being for the purpose of clearing the locking lever so that it may move to the matrix opening position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 and in Fig. 16, where the arm I38 overlies the upper edge of the plate.

The rear portion of the plate I9I is also raised so that it is in the path of the arm I3! of the matrix locking lever and, as the matrix carriers advance into the narrow channel I92 formed by the main portions of the plates I99 and I9I, the locking lever will be moved to unlock the molds. The upper edge of the plate I9I is then brought down to the level of the main body of the plate I95 so that during the travel of the matrix carrier through the channel I92 only the extreme lower edge of each yoke is in the channel, as shown in Fig. 17.

After the locking lever I34 has been moved to free the lo'king cam I35 from the notch I30 in bar II8, the matrix is ready to be opened by drawing the bar IIS downwardly. This operation is performed by two cams I98 which are fastened to the inside top surfaces of the plates I90 and MI by rivets I99. The spacing of the cams is such that the lower edges of the yoke and the bar I I8 will pass between them but the outstanding rollers I25 will strike the curved underside of the cams and the bar II8 will be drawn downwardly in the yoke arm, opening the matrix and exposing the finished article.

The movable upper section I99 of the matrix rema ns in its outer spaced position above the stationary section of the matrix until after the charge of casting material is delivered to the stationary section and then it drops on the lower section by passing off the rails IEI. The contact. however, between the edges of the matrix sections should be tighter than it is possible to obtain by the mere dropping of the upper section I09 and to give adequate sealing there is provided a hammer which strikes the upper end of each bar II8 and drives section I09 against the section I98 with enough force to insure a tight seal around the parting line of the matrix.

The hammer consists of a block 200, the underside of which is formed with a V-shaped recess 20I which strikes against the rollers I25. The hammer is movable in two vertical guide plates 203 attached to the extreme inner ends of the plates I64. The hammer is carried on the lower end of a piston rod 205, the piston of which operates in a cylinder 206 pivoted at 208 to a bracket 20'! secured to and extending from the upper cross beams 3. The hammer is further guided in its movement by a rod 209 threaded in an extension 2 I at the side of the hammer and received in an aperture in a guide plate 2I2 secured to the lower end of the cylinder 206. A collar 2 I3 on rod 209 forms a stop for the down ward movement of the hammer. The cylinder 205 is air actuated to lower the hammer at the instant that roller I25 on any of the matrix carriers is brought in line with the hammer and is raised immediately thereafter. The movement of the piston in the cylinder is controlled by a standard form of reversing valve, indicated at 2 I5 in Fig. 31. The valve is in turn controlled by two micro-switches 2I5 and 211, the former actuating the valve 2 I5 to lower the hammer and the latter actuating the valve to raise the hammer. To the side of the plate I 54 and pivoted on a pin 2'I9 set therein are two parallel arms 225 and 22], which are in alignment with the switches 2 I6 and 2 I1, respectively, the outer end of each arm terminating just below the switch which it is to operate. Both arms may move upwardly freely but are limited in their downward movement by a stop pin 222 set in the plate I34 and engaging notch in the underside of the arms.

The free end of arm 220 has adownwardly depending lug 2'24 and the arm 22.I a similar depending lug 225, it being noted that the lugs are separated by a space which is sufificient to let the hammer 200 drop on the rollers I and then return. The lugs 224 and 225 are located in the path of the pins I on the yokes I00.

The 'V-shaped notch 2'0I permits the hammer 200 to center itself with respect to the rollers L25 1 and'the pivotal movement of the hammer assembly about the point 200 permits the hammer to move forwardly with each matrix and, after the hammer is raised, to return to vertical position for the next matrix.

It will be seen, therefore, that as the matr x holders advance after receiving the charge, the pin I40 first strikes the lug 224, which actuates switch Zlfi, lowering the hammer with a sharp blow which seals the parting line of. the matrix, and then it strikes the lug 225 which actuates switch 2 I7 and the hammer is raised and held in raised position until pin I40 on the next matrix carrier reaches the lug 224.

The locking lever I34 is moved from its unlocked position to locked position after the harm mer'has delivered its blow. When the matrix is open, the arm 133 projects outwardly of the yoke I00 in the dotted line position of Fig. 10 and th s arm must now be moved inwardly to the full line position of Fig. 10. In Fig. 28, the arm I30 is shown projecting outwardly as it approaches the device by which the arm is moved inwardly.

The device for moving the lever into locking position consists of a roller 230 rotatable on a vertical axis on the end of a swinging arm 23I. The position of this roller is such that as the matrix carries advance it swings the locking lever I34 into locking position. The other end of arm 23I is secured to a vertical pin 232 "which is rotat- 14 ably mounted in a bearing 234 secured to the plate I64.

A stout coil spring 235, the tension of which may be adjusted, is wrapped about the pin 232 where it projects above the bearing, one end of the spring being anchored in the bearing and the other being connected to an arm 235 attached to the upper end of pin 232. The outer end of the arm 236 bears against the side of plate I04. The spring 235 presses the roller 23% toward the oncoming matrix carriers, the inward movement of the arm 23I being arrested by contact with the plate I64, as shown in Fig. 28. As the'roller 230 rides over the locking lever the arm 23I will yield, as shown in dotted line, but the force exerted by the roller is suflicient to drive the cam surface I35 into tight engagement with the notch I30 on bar IIB, securely locking the matrix sections in the tight relationship assured by the hammer blow delivered to it. The relation of the parts is such that the roller 230 is riding on the lever during the operation of the hammer so that the spring pressure on the roller will follow up the action of the hammer and the cam surface I35 will be driven home as the blow is delivered on the rod II8.

If, for any reason, the notch I30 does not register with the cam surface I35, so that the lever arm does not operate to lock the mold under the action of the roller 230, the conveyer should be arrested to permit the mold to be closed and locked by hand. To provide for this safety measure, a bracket 238 is attached to the lower end of .one of the guide plates 203 and extends out over the arm 23]. In the outer end of the bracket is located the safety micro-switch 239. If the locking lever is not moved to its locking position by the roller 230, the lever will move the arm .23I outwardly until it strikes the safety switch which actuates a circuit breaker -(not shown) to the motor 48 and the conveyor stops.

The matrix charging mechanism The casting material is stored in a tank 245, from which the material is led, by conduit 245, to a pump for delivering a measured charge of the material to'each matrix as it passes the charging station. Pumps for deliverin acc rately meas ured charges of fluid are well known and there are several commercial p mp-s available. lhe pump which has been selected for use with the machine is indicated generally by the numeral 250 and is carried by a frame 2 3? located between and supported by the channels 6 and 5. So much of the pllmnas is necessary to com lete the description of the machine is shown in Fig. 26 and also in Fig. '31.

The casting material from the tank enters at the underside of a head 25L which is provided with a circuitous or stepped passage 252, the upper end of which communicates with an outlet pipe 254 that leads to the charging device. At a central point the passage 252 connects with a passage 255 in which reciprocates a forcing plunger 259 extending through a packing 259a and carried by a piston 25! located in a cylinder 253. Located in the passage 252, on either side of the passage 255, are the ball valves 250 which permit the material to enter and leave the pump but prevent return flow in either direction.

The amount of castin material which is discharged into the line 255-; at each forward stroke of the piston depends upon the amplitude of piston movement and this is in turn controlled by 

